No, Western Civilization is still developing. I have mentioned that there are inherent mechanisms for improvement. Some conflicts take place in that context, some are more subversive of the framework.
What gives you the impression that there is little interest in Western Europe? People like Raymond Aron, Roger Scruton, Ignazio Stilone, and others have defended the West forcefully.
I will not answer for everyone in the "conservative movement". However, generally attacks on opponents are directed at those who attacked first, that is, radicals dissaffected with the West.
I do not think that most social conservatives are interested in social engineering, per se. Mostly they oppose things that they consider to be social engineering. In some instances, they take a particular position on an issue on grounds of morality or public policy, but that is inevitable, and does not amount to social engineering. The few suggestions that might be considered social engineering were, until fairly recently, merely common community customs, like a moment of silence or the posting of the Ten Commandments. The first was a widespread practice when I was in school in the '70s, the second was common even into the '60s. Thus, they think of it less as social engineering as being able to express community norms which were suppressed by the Federal government. Even among conservatives, some of these things are a matter of controversy. |
